Changes in the cool threshold associated with phases of the menstrual cycle.

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Abstract
Cool thresholds and volume pulse amplitudes were measured after the skin had been adapted to temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 C during the menstrual cycles of 3 subjects. The cool threshold was significantly larger during the psriod from the onset of menses of ovulation than after ovulation. This change in the cool threshold occurred only when the skin had adapted to temperatures above 35 C. The cutaneous volume pulse amplitude was smaller during the preovulatory phase than during the postovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle when the skin had been adapted to temperatures above 35 C. Evidence is presented that an increase in progesterone during the postovulatory phase of the cycle is responsible for the cutaneous vasodilation and the accompanying decrease in cool threshold.